LEAGUE REFEREES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 754, 29 August 1929, Page 14

LEAGUE REFEREES

A.R.L. DISCUSSES METHOD v OF APPOINTMENT \ RUMOURS OF A CLIQUE The method of appointment of! Referees for club fixtures in general, end senior A grade matches in particular, occupied the attention of the management committee of the Auckland Hugby Football League last evening. This is the culmination of dissatisfaction which has existed among the various clubs for the past two seasons over the standard of referee being appointed for senior matches on Carlaw Park—dissatisfaction which during the past week or two has assumed increasing proportions. The question has been discussed off BLnd on since the close of last season, and was re-introduced last evening when Mr. W. J. Davidson tabled proposals for the setting up of an appointments board. At present referees are appointed by the Referees' Association. Mr. Davidson suggested that the appointments board be constituted as follows: — (1) The chairman of the Referees’ Association; (2) a member of the Advisory Committee to be nominated by the Auckland Rugby League; <3) a delegate from the Auckland Jtugby League, to be elected by ballot, 3<uch appointee to be chairman of the appointments board. Mr. Davidson suggested further that the grading of referees should continue under the control of the Referees’ Association. Four members were to be nominated as A grade referees, but the appointments board could select any qualified member of the association to control senior matches. “TOO CONSERVATIVE” Speaking to his proposals. Mr. David- * n said it was evident that clubs were yiot in accord with the appointments of referees. The public also had at times given the same impression. There were two referees on the list for Saturday who had never refereed on Carlaw Park before. “It is time the clubs had some •ay—not all ths say—in the appointment of referees,” Mr. Davidson said. The best men were not being given Sl chance to control senior matches. Mr. B. Longbottom said that the proposed grading scheme was too conservative. He claimed that the four members proposed for the A grade were too few. The Referees’ Association s delegate on the League. Mr. W. Mincham. asked who was more competent to Judge a referee, the association or the League? Mr. Longbottom: We want a man who can be fair dinkum every Saturday. _ Mr. Mincham: That’s what the association has been endeavouring to do all along. _ Mr Davidson stated that one referee had had 11 Carlaw Park matches to control during the season, whereas a iother man. equally good, had only i fereed three games. “CONFIDENCE OF PLAYERS” Mr. H. Solomon recalled that last y t -ar the appointment of referees had not been satisfactory. A conference v. as held, but there had been no improvement. In fact, the refereeing was worse this year, he said. A referee had to have the confidence of the players and the public. The code was not giving the players the referees in which they had confidence. His club had been complaining continually about the referees. Another member of the League. Mr. R. Doble. said there was apparently a clique in the Referees’ Association. He knew good referees who could not get on because they were outside this clique. Mr. Mincham; I, personally, am only too pleased to see the young referees coming on, and stand down for them. He did not know where the clique came from. The chairman, Mr. G. Rhodes, was strongly against the third proposal that the A.R.L. delegate on the appointments board should be elected by ballot, such appointee to be chairman of the appointments board. He thought the public would not stand for it. He personally would not have the Job even at £2O a week. Mr. Rhodes thought that the grading of referees should be left with the Referees’ Association. They would be better Judges than laymen. “This body could nevsr appoint rofsrsss—it wouldn't be possible. If ths members wish to precipitate a conflict, then, I will Ist it go,” concluded Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Longbottom: We are fighting for the good referees in the association. We know there are plenty of them. Mr. C. Adamson: If we want something for the betterment of football, the clubs have to accept it. There was more discontent in the Junior grades this year than for the past 20 years, he said. He suggested the proposals should be referred to the referees for suggestions. CONTROL OF FOOTBALL “The referees naturally want to control their own affairs,” said Mx. Adamson. “but this body controls League football.” There was a tactful way of going about it. however. He was satisfied that the League had the loyal support of the referees generally. Finally, clause 3 was amended to read: —“An appointee of the A.R.L. who shall not be a member of any club, such appointee to be chairman of the appointments board.” On the motion of the chairman, the league decided to forward the first three clauses to the Referees* Association, for suggestion, the association to be asked to reply, and invited to send a deputation to the management committee meeting on September 11. Mr. Mincham indicated that a deputation would attend.